Disclaimer: I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! in any way, shape or form!

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Yuugi laughed quietly, hiding his voice behind his hand. "She'll never find me now."

The lid of the urn he was hiding in was lifted. "I won't? Well, my prince, it seems that I have found you!"

He wined. "How do you always find me?"

Salidji reached in and helped him out of the urn. "Well, you have to be more silent, my prince. Now close your eyes and count while I find a place to hide."

Yuugi nodded excitedly. He covered his eyes and started counting. Salidji smiled and ran off down the hall. She stopped and bowed as Seto walked through the hall. "Good evening, Master Seto."

He nodded. "Good evening, Salidji." Seto looked down the corner and saw the prince standing against the wall, face buried against it as he silently counted. "You and the prince are playing games again, are you?"

"Yes, Master Seto. At least, until the pharaoh returns from his meeting." She said respectfully.

Seto nodded. "Very well. Do not hide too far from the prince, Salidji. Keep a good eye on him."

"Of course, Master Seto. I will protect him." She stood up once he left. She turned around another corner and hid behind the leg of a statue. However, she stayed in plain site so the prince would find her easily.

"Here I come!" Yuugi cried. He turned around and smiled. "Hello Uncle Seto!"

Seto raised an eyebrow. "I'm not your uncle, my prince. The pharaoh was an only child."

Yuugi smiled. "I know. Do you know if papa is done yet?"

He shook his head. "No, I'm afraid he still has business to take care of. I'm sure he'll be done soon."

The child nodded and ran off. Seto smiled slightly and continued on his way.

Yuugi turned around one corner and then another. He saw a statue of Chons and just behind his leg he saw Salidji. "I found you!"

She wined and stepped towards him. "How do you always find me?"

"I'm just that good." Yuugi said proudly, hands on his hips and nose pointed to the sky.

Salidji laughed. "Go on and hide, my prince. And be silent this time."

Yuugi nodded and ran off down the halls. He turned a corner and smiled. "Good evening!"

A guard standing at his post turned around and bowed. "Good evening, my prince."

"Can you tell me where a good hiding place is?" Yuugi asked. "I'm playing with Moth- . . . Salidji and I need to find a place to hide."

The guard was confused why he almost said mother, but pointed back down the hall. "If you turn right you could hide behind a statue."

Yuugi covered his mouth as he giggled. "She'd never expect me to copy her. Thank you!"

The guard smiled as the young boy ran off to where he suggested. "That boy will make a fine pharaoh one day."

"Yes, but in the future." The other guard said. "A twelve year old still has much to learn."

Yuugi squeezed behind a statue of Bastet and quietly giggled. "I have to be quiet. I can't let her find me this time."

Suddenly, the guard cried out. His painful yell was cut off as if his mouth was covered. There was a silent crash and then a door opening. Yuugi frowned. 'That sounded like the guard that helped me hide. Is he hurt?'

He heard Salidji cry out, "Here I come, my prince."

Yuugi bit his lip. "Salidji would understand if I went to help him. I can't just stand here and let him get hurt."

He wiggled his way out from behind the statue and slowly walked towards the hall where he saw the guard. "Are you all right?"

There was no voice that replied to him. Yuugi continued forward and in the light of the torches on the walls, he could see that the guard had fallen to the ground.

Another step and something squished under his foot like he was walking on wet stone. He looked down and saw a red substance on the floor. Yuugi gasped and covered his mouth. He knew all too well what it was.

Yuugi looked up and saw that a door was open. He walked around the blood, leaving red footprints behind and slowly peaked in. It was the treasury room! Something was wrong . . .

--

Mahado gasped. 'My Millennium Ring senses an intruder!'

Atemu noticed Mahado had become very tense and was about to ask him what was wrong when the priest asked to be excused for a moment. Assuming it was nothing serious, Atemu let him go with no questions asked. 'Mahado will let me know when it is serious. I trust him.'

Mahado quickly walked down the halls. 'Why must there be a security breach when we are discussing peace terms?'

"Mahado!" Seto called to him. "Why are you away from the meeting?"

He turned around. "You should be answering that question, Seto. As the pharaoh's right hand priest, you are more important then I am. Therefore-"

"I was walking through the palace to make sure there were no disturbances." Seto interrupted. "I know what my rank is. However, I also know that the safety of foreign kings as well as my own king is more important then my presence. What of yourself?"

He sighed quietly. "My Ring sensed a disturbance in the palace. I don't know who or where but I needed to find out. I will alert the pharaoh of it once I know how dangerous it is."

Seto nodded. "I will gather soldiers in case we need them. Take care of yourself."

"Watch your back." Mahado turned around after giving him a friendly warning. His pace quickened as his footsteps took him to the stairs. He looked down to the cones of the Ring, all of which were pointing in this direction.

"I'll bet it's the treasury room." He ran down the stairs, eyes half fixed on his Ring and what was in front of him. There was a thief in their midst.

--

Yuugi recognized the coat of the man who stood in the treasury room. The red was crimson, only a shade or two darker then blood. He wore a white hood on his head this time, which seemed to be the only thing that had changed about the man.

Bakura threw his head back and laughed. "Really now, pharaoh, your too kind! All this for me?"

Yuugi quickly hid behind the door and breathed deeply. His father was still in the meeting and he knew all the priests were with him. He was on his own this time.

He gathered his courage and took the small knife from the dead guard's belt. "I need to borrow this. I'll give it back to you when I'm finished with it, I promise."

Yuugi tightly gripped it in his hands. He took one more deep breath and ran into the treasury room. "Stop!" He pointed the dagger at Bakura. "Those aren't yours so put them back."

Bakura turned around and glared icily. "Who are you to order me around?"

"The son of Pharaoh Atemu!" Yuugi announced. "But you already knew that. Put the treasures back."

He laughed throatily. "Just because you are a prince does not mean that I will listen to you. I am not your slave. How would you like to become mine?"

Salidji ran into the room. "No! Don't touch-"

A knife was suddenly thrown into her throat. Blood slowly leaked out from around the blood as she gasped for air. The knife had spilt open part of an artery causing some blood to squirt out. Her body fell to the ground and she scratched at the stone floor.

Salidji looked up at Yuugi. As he stared into her eyes, we watched as the life faded from them. Her body went limp and her eyes closed. Yuugi slowly backed away from her, eyes widened in horror.

Bakura shrugged. "Reflex."

He watched him with curiosity a moment, opening his mouth to speak with a hurtful, uncaring voice. "This is not your first time seeing someone die. From the looks of that vest she wears, she was close to you and your father. What was she to you? A guardian, perhaps? It seems she can't do her job very well."

Yuugi sobbed. "Stop it." He turned around and looked at Bakura. He didn't care about the tears falling down his eyes. He pointed the dagger at Bakura again. "Why are you doing this? She wasn't a bad person!"

He raised an eyebrow at the dagger Yuugi held. "What do you think that dagger does, boy? Can you imagine how many people have died at its blade?"

Yuugi stared at the knife. He couldn't help but see the battlefield on the day that the bandits attacked the palace and the man with no legs.

--

Mahado rushed as fast as he could down the stairs. Finally reaching the bottom, he saw the door of the treasury room open, the two guards posted at the entrance dead and a pair of legs sticking out the entrance.

He jumped over the bodies and gasped. "Bakura!"

Yuugi looked behind him at Mahado. The instant he turned his back, Bakura grabbed Yuugi's arm, twisting it behind him. He grabbed the dagger the prince held and pushed it roughly against his neck.

Mahado could only watch in horror as Yuugi was held against his will. "Release him now!"

"I will release him to the afterlife if you do not obey my orders, Mahado." Bakura grinned. "How would you like to have your prince's death on your hands?"

Yuugi whimpered as the blade cut his skin. Mahado glared at Bakura. "How dare you use the prince for your own selfish needs? You will not get away with-"

The child cried out in pain as Bakura slid the blade across Yuugi's chest creating a deep cut that started to bleed. "One more word out of you and he will join his guardian."

Mahado looked down at his feet to see Salidji with a knife still impaled in her neck. He looked back at Bakura with more anger in his eyes but did not say a word.

The thief grinned. "You really are a wise priest. Now, walk out of the room and turn right. If you try to stop me in anyway, I will gladly hand the prince over piece by piece starting with his heart."

To emphasize his point, Bakura put the tip of the blade to Yuugi's chest. He circled the area where his heart would be, dragging it along his skin. Yuugi whimpered fearfully.

Mahado's body shook from his anger. He started walking backwards, never turning his back nor taking his eyes off of Bakura. Yuugi stuck out his other arm to the magician. "Mahado, please! Help! D-Don't leave me!"

He looked at the prince in shame. "I'm sorry, my prince. I won't let you die at his hands."

Mahado continued walking backwards and turned down the hall. He summoned the Illusion Magician. "Track him. Track Bakura. Do all that you can to keep the prince safe! Don't lose them!"

It nodded and flew down the hall. Mahado ran to the other set of stairs and barged into the meeting room. It was empty. The meeting was finished!

Mahado ran towards the gates to see the pharaoh bidding the king goodbye. He bowed at the pharaoh's feet, panting. "Please, forgive me, my pharaoh. It's an emergency."

Atemu finished saying goodbye and waited until the gate closed. "What happened, Mahado?"

"It's Bakura, my pharaoh. He's here." Mahado looked down at the ground. "Forgive me, my pharaoh. But he has the prince as a hostage."

Atemu and the priests gasped. There was silence until Atemu's voice cut through it like a blade. "Guard all exits out of the palace! Do not let him out of these walls! Arm our soldiers! Hunt him down!"

Mahado's body was tense. He waited for the pharaoh to speak to him. "Mahado, stand."

He did as he was told. Atemu looked him in the eye. "Please, tell me. What happened to Salidji? Wasn't she with him?"

Mahado nodded. "Bakura killed her."

Atemu sighed. "Where did you see Bakura and Yuugi?"

"In the treasury room. I couldn't do anything to stop him, my pharaoh. He held a knife to the prince's throat and cut his chest." Mahado bowed his head. "He would have killed him."

Atemu took a deep breath. "Mahado, there was nothing you could have done. Nothing."

"I sent Illusion Magician to track Bakura down. Please forgive me for my failure, pharaoh." Mahado begged.

Atemu paused. "I already have." He turned to the captain of the guards. "Have your soldiers search every room in this palace, starting with the treasury room. Go!"

--

Bakura chuckled. 'Look at those fools. They search frantically for their beloved prince.'

He saw the pharaoh barking orders at his guards. He leaned down to Yuugi's ear and whispered, "Do you see him, prince? Do you miss your father?"

He whimpered and bit down on the gag in his mouth. 'Papa, help me! Someone, please!'

The thief sat up proudly on his horse. "Would you like to leave a parting word for him?"

Yuugi felt Bakura untying the gag and took a deep breath. "PAPA!!!"

Everyone in the courtyard turned their eyes towards the cliffs. Bakura's horse reared, kicking its front legs. He laughed as the horse raced off into the desert, carrying Bakura and Yuugi with it.

Atemu's heart broke as he saw Bakura carrying his screaming son away from him. "Ride! Ride to the desert!"

One guard brought Atemu his horse as he ordered the gates open. Once there was enough room to get through, Atemu burst out of the gate and rode towards the desert. 'Gods of Egypt, I beseech thee! Please spare my son from harm! If someone must die, take my life in stead of his!'

The loud clomping of his horses galloping hoof beats became more silent as he rode upon the sand. Atemu lifted up his arm unfolding his diadiankh. "I call forth The Winged Dragon and Curse of Dragon!"

The two creatures appeared in a brilliant light. They flew close to him, awaiting their orders. "Fly ahead! Find Bakura!"

Flapping their wings as hard as they could, the two dragons flew off into the desert. A few other creatures joined them, fanning out across the sky. The priests of his court rode along side him.

"We will not stop until we find them!" Atemu cried.

--

Bakura saw the rock shaped like a star and pulled hard on the reigns. The horse skidded on the ground as it tried to stop. Soon, their motion came to a halt. Bakura grabbed the prince and pulled him down off the horse as he dismounted, throwing him to the ground.

"Your purpose has been fulfilled." He smacked the horse's rear to make it run into the desert. Seeing as he stole that horse from the pharaoh's stables, it ran back towards the palace.

Bakura looked down at Yuugi who was trembling on his knees. "Your purpose is no where near fulfilled."

He grabbed Yuugi's arm and pulled the struggling boy towards a specific dune. Bakura stuck his hand into the sand and gripped onto a chain. He pulled it out of the sand until he heard a click. He smiled and pushed Yuugi to his left.

The prince fell onto the sand. When his body collided with the earth, there was a dull thudding sound. The ground underneath him collapsed and Yuugi fell through the opening. His back slammed against a set of stairs. He lay there groaning in pain. When he looked up, he saw a pair of doors in the sand. Where did these stairs lead?

Bakura walked down them grabbing another chain. As he pulled, the doors were brought to a close and didn't let go of the chain until he heard another click. Dropping the chain, he grabbed Yuugi and threw him down the stairs. "Don't expect me to drag you everywhere."

Yuugi painfully tumbled down the stairs. His arms were tied behind his back so he couldn't stop himself from colliding with the ground at the bottom. Bakura grabbed his hair and pulled him up. "Stand on your feet, prince."

Yuugi got his feet under him and panted when Bakura let him go. He glared up at the thief. Bakura glared right back at him and slapped his face. "While you are here you will learn some respect!"

Bakura kicked him once in the side then forced Yuugi to stand up again. They walked down the underground hallway a bit before Bakura pushed Yuugi into a cell, closing and locking the door. "Comfy?"

Yuugi looked up at him. He watched as Bakura dangled a ring of keys, grinning like a mad man. The thief opened his robe and placed them into a pocket. His laughter echoed off the walls as he walked away.

The boy brought his knees to his chest and sobbed against them, sitting in a fetal position. His arms were sore from having them tied behind him. He was tired, hungry and in pain. "Papa, please help me. I'm scared."

But because they were underground how could Atemu ever know where they were? It was pointless to hope for the impossible.

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I hope you liked the chapter! Please review!!

Once again, I got an anonymous review from "Andrea". I'd like to take this time to reply to her.

Thanks for the review again! n.n I'm glad to see you came back for more. I hope your satisfied with this present! Happy birthday! (Sorry if I missed it!)

See you all next chapter!